Charlie Kirk, Conservative Commentator, Dead At 31

Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday. He was 31 years old.

"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead," President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social. "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"

Video from the event showed a single bullet fired on the Sorensen Center courtyard. Kirk is seen reaching for his neck with his right hand.

Kirk was host of Charlie Kirk Today, which aired weeknights at 6:30 pm and 12:30 am on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

The conservative commentator has previously stated his belief that gun deaths in exchange for the preservation of the Second Amendment was a part of America's reality.

"You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won't have a single gun death," he said in 2023. "I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational."